Bhavina is Silver lining for India’s Paralympics presence
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Woman of Metal
India’s pride Bhavina Patel settled for silver after being outclassed in straight sets by reigning six-time champion Zhou Ying.
Bhavina looked nervous and I’ll at ease for her life’s biggest moment but her Gold hopes were put down by 32-year-old Zhou with consummate ease.
The nation will however still say ‘well played Bhavina’ for her journey and achievement in Tokyo Paralympics.
It was quite an achievement that many tuned in to DD Sport early morning to watch the match when Paralympics at all levels is a low ticket event with no or few sponsors.
There you have it!!! 🥈✨🇮🇳@BhavinaPatel6 wins the first medal of #Tokyo2020 @Paralympics for #IND !!!🏓
On our #NationalSportsDay 🎉#BhavinaPatel #silvermedal 🥈 #Praise4Para #Paralympics #UnitedByEmotion @Media_SAI @narendramodi @ianuragthakur @NisithPramanik @KirenRijiju pic.twitter.com/5yk4knCstg— Paralympic India 🇮🇳 #Cheer4India 🏅 #Praise4Para (@ParalympicIndia) August 29, 2021
Perhaps, it’s efforts like Patel’s that will bring back this arm of differently baked sports into focus and resources in India. Patel who is 34 and wheelchair-bound will go down in history books as one of those sportspersons who came up from nowhere and reached the Big Games podium solely on her personal training and dint of determination.
Final scores; Zhou Ying vs Bhavina Patel #Paralympics #ParaTableTennis pic.twitter.com/fkEQFX5Zrk
— Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel) August 29, 2021
She may have lost the Gold match 7-11, 5-11, 6-11 to the experienced Zhou but she won hearts and recognition for reaching the top of the table in Table Tennis.